Three Firms To Be Suspended During Investigation Of Bids

November 14, 1985|By Rick Pierce, Staff Writer

Three Fort Lauderdale firms that officials believe were caught up in a bid- rigging scheme will be suspended from bidding on county work and the matter will be turned over to the State Attorney`s Office for further investigation, county officials said Wednesday.

``There is sufficient evidence presented in this audit to temporarily suspend these companies pending hearing something back from the State Attorney`s Office,`` said Glenn Cummings, county purchasing director. Cummings said the suspension would take effect as soon as he can prepare the paperwork.

The firms are Waldron`s Petroleum Tank Service, Harry`s Transport Equipment Sales and Service along with Bison Maritime.

Bids from the three companies were purportedly submitted for the repair of a leaking tank on a fire truck. But auditors think one person wrote the three bids -- the three appear to be typed on the same typewriter -- and that two of the bids were solicited to make it seem bidding rules were being followed.

The signature on the bottom of Bison`s bid appears to have been forged and was spelled wrong. The man whose name appears at the bottom of the Harry`s Transport bid said he never signed it.

No action has been taken against Don Steigerwald, the county employee responsible for scheduling repairs for the motor pool. County Administrator Floyd Johnson said the matter will be reviewed.

Steigerwald said he called Waldron`s in May when a fire truck tank needed to be patched and welded. Waldron`s employees took apart the vehicle to prepare an estimate. Steigerwald said he was then told by county purchasing officials that he would have to get two other bids.

Steigerwald said he called Don Waldron, the firm`s vice president, and asked if he knew of other companies that would go to Waldron`s garage and prepare an estimate.

``He said, `Do you want me to handle it for you?` And I said, `Yes,` `` according to Steigerwald.